Stirred up, &c. This stirring up, was not the doing of God, but of satan; as it is expressly declared, 1 Chronicles xxi. 1. (Challoner) --- David was moved by vanity, &c., thus to displease God. --- Among. Hebrew, "against;" as the king could have done nothing more prejudicial to his people, 70,000... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them. He was led by curiosity. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thing. He speaks in stronger terms, and adds, (1 Paralipomenon xxi. 3,) which may be imputed as a sin to Israel. Joab was not extremely religious: yet he perceived the evil consequences, and, along with the other captains, expressed his sentiments with more respect than on former occasions. (Haydoc... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, at the eastern extremity, on the banks of the Arnon._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hodsi. Alexandrian Septuagint, (5) "of Gad and Eliazer, (6) and they came into Galaad, and into the land of Ethaon Adasai, and they went into Dan Jaran." The other editions vary. Hebrew means, "to the land of new subjects," or "lately conquered" (Junius) from the Agarites, (1 Paralipomenon v. 10,)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tyre, the ancient; about 4000 paces from the new city, which stands in an island. (Strabo xvi.) See Josue xix. 29._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land. Yet they did not number the Levites or Benjamin, nor even the rest exactly, as Joab acted with reluctance, 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 6., and xxvii. 24. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Eight....and five. Theodotion says nine and four, which comes to the same sum. (Haydock) --- But 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 5, reads, eleven hundred thousand, and four hundred and seventy thousand fighting men: though even there the Arabic version has the number here specified, which is less incredible. T... [ Continue Reading ]
David's heart struck him, after the people were numbered. That is, he was touched with a great remorse for the vanity and pride which had put him upon numbering the people. (Challoner) --- His sin must have been internal, and probably involved a secret confidence in his riches and power, without ref... [ Continue Reading ]
_And seer. This was a peculiar distinction of the prophet, (Haydock) who was appointed to direct David, (Menochius) to whom he had been long attached, 1 Kings xxii. 5. (Calmet0_... [ Continue Reading ]
Seven. Paralipomenon, three; which makes the contrast more striking. (Haydock) --- The Septuagint, and some copies of the Arabic version, have the latter number. (Calmet) --- Gad might first propose seven, and then reduce it to three. (Menochius) --- But did the prophet deliver the message twice? Us... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, and be exposed to the violence of pestilence, which attacks both rich and poor; whereas the rich can frequently escape the dangers of war, or of famine. (Calmet) --- David knew that he had sinned, and he did not wish to screen himself from suffering the temporal punishment due to sin. (Haydoc... [ Continue Reading ]
_And. Septuagint insert, "And David chose death, (the pestilence, as they usually render it; Salien). And it was the time of the wheat-harvest. And the Lord gave death in Israel, from morning till dinner-time." (Haydock) --- Appointed, for three days; though before the end of the last, God took pity... [ Continue Reading ]
_Areuna. Hebrew styles him, Araniah, (ver. 18.; Calmet) i being substituted for u, and placed after n. He is called Ornan, 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 18, (Haydock) and has the title of Jebusite, as he was originally of that nation, and had been permitted to retain his effects, on his embracing the true re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Are, like sheep. (Menochius) --- They were not accountable for the fault of their shepherd, or king; nor were they punished for it, (Haydock) but for joining in the revolts of Absalom, Seba, &c., (Salien) as well as for other secret offences. (Haydock) --- Some groundlessly condemn the people, for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Altar. This was done by a positive order. People still had the liberty of sacrificing on the heights of Gabaon. (Calmet) --- This place was honoured with the tabernacle; and David would have gone thither, if he had not been so much terrified, 1 Paralipomenon xxi. 30. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wain. So Josephus reads. Septuagint, "wheels." Hebrew, "rollers," to beat out the corn. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "threshing instruments, and other instruments of the oxen for wood." Paralipomenon adds, that Areuna offered wheat, and saw the angel, as his four sons, and probably most of the inhabit... [ Continue Reading ]
_As a king. Literally, king Areuna:" e may have been substituted for c, "like," though the latter word is often understood. (Haydock) --- Some suppose that he was formerly king of the Jebusites, (Vatable) or one of their descendants, (Grotius) or possessed of great riches, &c. But why is the title n... [ Continue Reading ]
Free-cost, or given gratis. This shews that subjects have property, otherwise they could only yield what was due to the king, as his own. (Worthington) --- Silver. Septuagint, "for the silver of fifty sicles." (Haydock) --- Bochart explains for the money of 50 sicles of gold, which makes 600 sicles... [ Continue Reading ]
_Holocausts; a second time. The former victims had been consumed by fire from heaven, 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. 28. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXIV.... [ Continue Reading ]